I have cream colored leather couches that my husband and I bought a few years before we ever thought we would have kids. We spent a lot of money on them and they have made it through many events and many kids - until now. I have cleaned them myself regularly with a leather cleaner I got from the manufacturer and they look practically new maybe getting a bit dingy, however, my daughter is a budding artist and recently decided to take a ball point pen to them. If it was just a few little marks I wouldn't freak so much but she really went to town on one of them and I am at a loss as to how to get the marks off. Any thoughts or success stories? They are now about 15 years old and could use a good cleaning overall as well since I have never actually deep cleaned them. I am not in the market for professional cleaning right now, the cost is just too much. Any advice on products or techniques would be great!
Thanks so much in advance to all of you.
I don't know about ball point pen. However, for everyday cleaning I use a recipe for home made leather cleaner (rubbing alcohol, vinegar and water) that I found online (google it) and it works wonderfully. It leaves the leather shiny and looking new. I love it.
If you spray hairspray in the ink it should wipe off with a damp cloth. You need to let the hairspray sit for a little bit before you wipe the couch off.
I haven't had any experiences with pen (knock on wood), but we've had some issues with markers (not Sharpies, thank goodness). I used baby wipes for the markers. When we bought our couches, the sales clerk told us to use baby wipes for everyday messes, etc. She said that they're safe and work well for most things. Try it and hopefully it will work for the pen! Good luck!
Try Saddle Soap.
If you Google it online, they will tell you how to use it.
Saddle Soap is actually used for saddles.
I don't know if it will remove pen marks.
I do know that rubbing alcohol, on any marks in the household, will be removed, pen included. I don't know if on leather.
I use a product called Sol-U-Mel. It will clean even permanent marker from just about any surface. The best thing about it is that it doesn't contain ANY chemicals, so it should be perfectly safe for your leather furniture! Let me know if you'd like more info on where to get it.
Okay, Sol-U-Mel discolored my leather ottoman. I was FURIOUS! Luckily I could get it recovered.
I found out from a friend to use Neutrogena face soap (not the scrub) on a damp cloth. It works like a charm! Unfortunately, my daughter is ALSO a budding artist and I have had many chances to use this remedy! ;)
We have really light colored leather also and something similar happened. I tried a couple of things...hairspray did not work. Most sites I looked at said hairspray or alcohol. Neither worked. The one thing that has works consistently is Sol-U-Mel. A couple of weeks ago my two year old son got a pen and was using the couch as a desk. The pen ran off the paper and on the couch. I had about a tsp of Sol-U-Mel left and it took it right off. The key is to put it on the rag and rub gently, then once the pen mark is gone wipe it with a clean, wet cloth. We have a really nice kitchen table too and sol-u-mel works great on it too.
hair spray will remove pen from clothing, it will probably work with the couch. You may want to try some hair spray and the leather cleaner. (I also use baby wipes on my leather couch, I figure if they are good enough for baby butts they should work on my leather couch, right?)
Let us know when you find something that works!!
I am not sure how it will work on leather so I would do a test spot first but hand sanitizer gel works wonders on sharpie pens on walls. I would give it a try on the couches.
